A Trip to Remember... or Forget??

My mom rented a house in Mammoth for a whole month. Her and my dad planned to go up last Sunday (the 28th) and stay for the week. My dad was going to come home after the holiday for work and go back towards the end of the month. My mom is staying up there the whole month, having a few girlfriends stay with her each week. Anyway, I thought I would drive up the Sunday they were leaving and join them for about 5 days. Jason had his state contractors test last Wednesday and was staying home Monday and Tuesday to study. So it was a good opportunity for him to have some peace and quiet while the kids and I got away. WHAT in the heck was I thinking?? Seriously. Who goes on a 5 hour road trip with 2 five month old babies and a 3 year old? Well, maybe some people do, but I made a mistake by doing so. Now my dad thinks it wasn't that bad, but then again, remember he is the most patient being that ever existed. My dad rode with me so that I had an extra set of hands to help during the drive. Derek was fine sitting in the 3rd row of the Suburban watching some DVDs. The babies sat in the 2nd row so we had an open seat in case any feeding needed it happen. First off, the road to Mammoth is a very boring drive. Highway 395 has NOTHING. Hardly anywhere to stop, REALLY. We finally stopped when we were halfway there. The only stop was a gas station that had a Subway in it. It's 105 degrees and not even a shady grassy area to put out a blanket for the babies to stretch out. Not even a changing table in the bathrooms! So they were changed on a regular table where you eat. And do you think I cared if anyone was offended by that??... nope! Plus Derek wasn't feeling good. He had a fever right when we left that morning of 103. I gave him Motrin and Tylenol and figured he would sleep. He wasn't acting sick at all, just the fever. Weird. So we're back on the road for just about 45 minutes when we get to the greatest park in Lonepine. It has a stream going through it with water coming down from Mt. Whitney.



Perfect place for Derek to run around and the twins to stretch out on a blanket in a TON of shade. Very fun. Next stop, Mammoth. It took a little over 6 hours, with only 2 stops, which isn't bad at all. We got there Sunday evening, made dinner, went to bed. I don't even want to get into the bedtime mishaps. Crying babies, Derek with a high fever again. The kids and I sharing the loft. No bedroom to tuck them away in. Plus I fell down the stairs. Yup, that's right. Bloody elbow, hurt knee. A knee that was already hurt to begin with. Not too fun.

On Monday we packed up for a day trip to June Lake. One pack-n-play, a beach umbrella, a blow-up boat for Derek, the kayak, and lunch... finally ready to go. Well, we stayed about an hour and a half. It was hot, then it was windy. The babies really can't share a pack-m-play because they're all over each other in it and just not comfortable. Crying babies and a sick Derek. So we packed up and went back to the house. I took Derek to the pool, but it was FREEZING, yes, I'm talking FREEZING. And the jacuzzi, SO hot. But he had his fishing pole and pretended to fish in the pool. Fun for him, relaxing for me.

Now it's Monday evening and we're making dinner. Derek gets his fever again, the babies are starting the fussy part of almost every evening, and I fall down the stairs, again. I'm not a very clumsy person. My dad said these stairs were built bad. How they passed code, I don't know. Very steep and narrow. The night continues and my My dad says, "Hey, why don't you and mom go to the movies and I'll watch the kids tonight." Really? Are you sure? OK! So I start to get ready while trying to gets kids to bed too. The movie is at 8:20. It's 6:45. Then it's 7:15 and the all 3 kids are up. Then it's 7:45, no kids asleep yet. Jillian is SCREAMING! James is fussy. Derek just wants me to lay with him in bed. Finally Derek goes to sleep. But Jillian is still screaming, no matter what we do for her. So my mom and I take the babies for a drive... that usually puts them right to bed. James went right to sleep, but my little devil girl continued to scream for 30 minutes. Then, sudden silence. She fell asleep. We came home, put them in bed. Missed the movie, of course. Decided this isn't going to be a fun trip and I was driving home the next morning. My dad had to cut his trip short too because he wasn't going to let me drive home with them alone. It's just too hard. I can't carry 2 babies and Derek at every stop I have to make. (I didn't have my double stroller). So 2 days there was long enough. The ride home, WORSE. I think we had to stop 4 times. It took 7 1/2 hours. I was so happy to be home! But felt so bad my dad had to leave. He says he didn't mind, he had so much work to do anyway. But I still feel awful.

Derek did sleep for about and hour & 1/2 of the drive up...


Grandpa had a stow away on his kayak


What it takes to pack for twins. If we still had the Trailblazer, this wouldn't have worked!


The way home we had all 3 kids in the 2nd row. Derek hated being in the 3rd row alone, so it actually worked better this way. Except no room to go back to feed a baby.


So, to recap, I will never go on a road trip without Jason. And no more road trips until the twins are at least a year old!